Origins: Coming Home from the Wake/Nellie Milkmaid

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:15 AM

In fact, I have tracked down that ref on the Handsome Sandy Paton thread. Thanks for the reminder, Lighter.

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:09 AM

In fact, Sandy's 1959 Elektra album #148, The Many Sides of Sandy Paton, track 12 ~~ title Coming Home From The Wake.

I have never actually seen a copy of this. Has anyone got it?   Did he acknowledge me as source on it, anyone know? Just curious.

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 12:03 AM

At my mother's restaurant, Lighter ~ Chez Cleo, Kensington, where I used to sing Caviare & Foggy Dew, &c, & a semi-impromptu customer-participatory cabaret would often happen ~ Ustinov's Love Of 3 Colonels was running in London & one night I recall none other than Theo Bikel taking the guitar off the wall & singing! This about mid-50s.

The version of Home From Wake that one customer sang & taught me was called Roger Of Kildare. As you say, I then passed it on to Sandy at the Troubadour Old Brompton Road, 1958, & I think he put it on, was it his Many Faces album?.

Can you give a link to the previous post of mine re this that you ref above, please?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 09:25 PM

On another thread, MtheGM thinks that Sandy Paton learned his version, which Sandy then recorded in 1958/59.

M - where and when did you learn it?

It had rarely been in print back then.

It reminds me of Harry Cox's version, but I haven't heard that in years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Anglo
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:16 AM

I remember John Pearse singing the Gardiner version, but I don't remember what the recording was. Sorry. (But I don't think this was the song originally called for at the top of the thread. Ah well, that's mudcat.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Jun 09 - 08:56 AM

Tom Kines also recorded Abbott's version for Folkways in 1962 on "An Irishman in North Americay."

But I like Gardiner's better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: 12-stringer
Date: 14 Jun 09 - 12:48 AM

See also the c1960 Folkways album "Irish & British Songs from the Ottawa Valley," where the majestic Ontario traditional singer O J Abbott performs a great version of the song, much revised from the broadside text.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 13 Jun 09 - 08:57 PM

Like many of the Hammond and Gardiner collection this is available on an early LP Folk Songs of Dorset. Now thankfully re-released as a two CD issue Songs of Hampshire and Dorset.
This version, sung by Cheryl Jordan is titled " Nelly the Mikmaid.


Unashamed Plug here but a great source of authentic style recordings.

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 13 Jun 09 - 09:46 AM

This guy does a great job with the version collected by Gardiner in 1907. Unfortunately, you can hear only the first half:

http://ralfweihrauch.de/54504.html

I believe that Shirley and Dolly Collins recorded this long ago, but if so the album has not been re-released. And if so, it should be.

Subject: Lyr Add: COMING HOME FROM THE WAKE (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 May 05 - 12:13 AM

From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 40(3):

COMING HOME FROM THE WAKE
[printed by Nugent, J.F. and Co.? (Dublin?), between 1850 and 1899.]

Young Nelly, the milkmaid, so buxom and gay,
Did always delight with young Roger to play.
One evening, resolved a dance for to take,
She asked of her mother to go to the wake.

"Now, Nell you may go, but I'll have you take care,
And of Roger's delusions, acushla, beware.
For unless this my counsel you rightly do take,
By my soul you'll remember coming home from the wake."

So dressed in her best, away Nell did steer
With pleasure, expecting young Roger was there.
They danced and they played like a duck and a drake,
So that was the sport they had at the wake.

The pastime being over, they home took their way,
Until they had come to some cocks of new hay,
Where he led her a dance, and says she, "For your sake,
My soul, I'll ne'er forget coming home from the wake."

In some short time after, poor Nell grew unwell,
And her mother says, "Tell me the reason, dear Nell."
Says Nell, "I can't tell, if my life was at stake,
Unless it was that cursed dance coming home from the wake."

Now, Nell, being a maiden of beautiful charms,
Always had a right to be aware of alarms.
So girls, by Nelly a warning pray take,
And take care how you dance coming home from a wake.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 May 05 - 08:50 AM

Young Roger looked so handsome I could weep,
With his hair of brown and eyes of blue so deep.
At the wake I got excited,
But my lust went unrequited.
On the way back from the wake he fell asleep.

by the Kipper Family - in the DT twice as SATISFY ME and again as THE UNLAID MAID

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Coming Home from the Wake
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 May 05 - 01:07 AM

COMING HOME FROM THE WAKE is sung by Harry Cox on his album "The Bonny Labouring Boy: Traditional Songs & Tunes From a Norfolk Farm Worker," Topic 2-CD set #512, 2001.

I listened to a sound sample, and here's what I think I heard:

Now the wake bein' over and Nelly goin' away,
He dragged poor Nelly along to some new-mown hay.
He laid poor Nelly down and her promise she did break,
And he kissed his pretty Nelly comin' home from the wake,
And he kissed his pretty Nelly comin' home.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: KT
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 06:46 PM

Thanks so much Martin. I'll pass that message on to Tommy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 04:15 PM

That'll be Margaret Barry, a well-known traditional singer who died some years ago. She was a member of what is now termed the "traveller" community in Ireland - formerly called itinerant, tinker and a lot more besides, I'm afraid. I don't know the song, off hand. Mind you, I'd be surprised if Tommy couldn't lay hold of a copy. You might suggest he try the irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin - or perhps John Moulden.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 02:22 PM

Has anyone ever heard of Maggie Berry? I think she may be one who recorded this song. I am actually looking for these lyrics for Tommy Sands.....Thanks again for your help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 11:29 PM

Thanks so much for your replies.....Neither of those is the right one. The refrain .....

Comin' home from the wake, comin' home from the wake Sure we'll all be together comin' home from the wake!!

Might have been recorded by Maggie Berry (sp?) Thanks again for any assistance!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 07:09 PM

You surely couldn't mean

'Keep your legs together coming home from the wake'

If so here is a blue clickety thing which will get you there if I know my HTML from my HTMLbow!!

Click Here

(If the blue clickety thing doesn't work put 'together' in the Filter and set the days to 3 for the lyrics.)

Paddy(1)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 09:56 PM

Is that "Nelly coming home from the wake"?

Subject: lyrics for Comin' Home From the Wake
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 08:31 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to an Irish song...the refrain contains the phrase..."Comin' home from the wake, comin' home fron the wake...." Anybody ever hear of it